I will never forget my first concert. It was me, my mom, and my best friend from elementary school going to see the one, the only, Hannah Montana. I’ve never been so excited in my life. I was so prepared. I knew every word to every song, had my Hannah shirt on, put glitter in my hair, and wore my favorite light up sketchers. It was 2007. I was nine years old, and the price of the concert ticket was none of my concern.

I have been going to concerts ever since….so many that I’ve lost track. After Hannah Montana it was the Jonas Brothers. Next came Demi Lovato. Taylor Swift twice (three times as of this August), Ed Sheeran twice, Chance the rapper, Bruno Mars, Justin Timberlake, the Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Zac Brown Band, Kenny Chesney, Brett Young, Thomas Rhett, Austin Mahone, The Clarks and Lady Antebellum. I could go on for hours. That’s only the beginning. I’ve even gone to the lengths of driving with my grandparents to Buffalo, NY in the fifth grade to see Hillary Duff.

Over the years I’ve seen the prices of these tickets rise more and more. And now it is of my concern, because as I grow older I obviously have to take on more responsibility and pay for them on my own. Now, concert ticket prices range anywhere from $50-$250. I’ve paid $250 more than once for a singular ticket. Do I care? No. People seem to excessively complain about these insane prices these days. But to me it’s worth it. It’s all about the experience, not the cost of the ticket. For me it’s all about the rush that concerts tend to give me.

The fact that thousands of people gather together in a stadium just to see one person is amazing to me. We all share a common interest of love for that one artist, which is pretty cool if you think about it. Concerts are considered an opportunity to meet new people. Share this moment that you’ve been waiting for with others around you. Dance like nobody's watching. Sing on the top of your lungs. Scream as loud as you possibly can. It’s amazing.

Everyone knows the words to every song, and when a stadium of people sing these words collectively it sends a chill up and down my spine. Looking out into a sea of people and seeing nothing but twinkling lights is a magical sight. Seeing a person you idolize in person is amazing. After the concert, you gain a new level of respect for this person because you see how much time and effort they put into each and every show. They are so talented to me. It’s an experience like no other. It’s worth every single penny.

With that said, I do not care how much it is to go see Taylor Swift or Chance the Rapper. I will always be looking for that magical feeling and the rush that concerts give me. It is worth every penny. It is much more than just a ticket, it’s an experience like no other.